Additional Mathematics

Chapter1 Functions

Chapter 1 Functions

f
x
Figure 1.1

f (x)

Notation of a function
1. Function can be written in two ways: (a) Functions name (Object) = Image Example, given f ( x) = 2 x , Find f (1) and f (2) .

Solutions:

f (1) = 2(1) = 2 f (2) = 2(2) = 4

( Notes: f (x ) is the image of function f where x is the object of the function.) From the example, the work done by the function is double the value of the object, x to produce the image, 2 x . (b) Functions name: Object a Image is mapped to f : x a 2x For example,

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Additional Mathematics 2.

Chapter1 Functions

Composite functions

g
f (x)
gf
Figure 1.2

gf ( x ) = g[ f ( x )]

Secondary function[Primary function(Object)] = Image

Example,

g[ f ( x)] =

Image

2. Based on Figure 1.2, function f maps the object x to image f (x ) . Then, function g maps the secondary object f ( x) to secondary image gf ( x ) . 3. The objective to find composite function gf (x ) is combining the two mapping processes that performs function f followed by function g to a single function, gf .

Given f ( x) = 2 x and g ( x) = x + 1 , ( i ) Find the composite function fg . Solutions: fg ( x ) = f [ g ( x )] = f ( x + 1) (Step 1 Substitute g ( x ) with x + 1 )

Example,

Explanation of substitution steps f ( x) = 2 x f ( x + 1 ) = 2( x + 1 )

= 2( x + 1) = 2x + 2
( ii ) Find the composite function fg . Solutions: g[ f ( x)] = g (2 x)

= (2 x) + 1 = 2x + 1

More examples, ( iii ) Find f 2 ( x) , and g 2 ( x) . Solutions:

f 2 ( x) = f [ f ( x)]

= f (2 x)
= 2(2 x)
= 4x

g 2 ( x) = g[ g ( x)]
= g ( x + 1) = ( x + 1) + 1 = x+2

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Additional Mathematics

Chapter1 Functions

Inverse Function
Domain Object

Image

Codomain

New image

New object

Figure 1.3 4. Based on figure 1.3, the inverse function of f , f 1 is a function that doing the reverse process of function f . It maps the image of f ,which is x back to the original object of f , which is y . Step 1: Let

f ( x) = y f ( y) = x
1

x = f ( y)

Example, f ( x) = 2 x + 1 Step 1: Let

1

f ( x) = y f ( y) = x
f ( y) = 2 y + 1 2y +1 = x
2y = x 1 x 1 y= = f 1 ( x) 2
x 1 2

Step 2: Express f ( y ) in terms of y and then equalize f ( y ) with x

Step 2:

f ( y ) = ... ... = x ,
Step 3: The goal here is to find the inverse function of f which is y because y = f 1 ( x ) from equation 1 . ( Note: Express y in terms of x ) Hence, y itself is on the left, and others are on the right.

Step 3:

Step 4:

f 1 ( x) =

y = ??? = f 1 ( x)
Step 4: Substitute y with f
1

( x ) from equation (1).

f 1 ( x) = ???
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Additional Mathematics

Chapter1 Functions

Finding functions
5. A composite function will be given. Also, one of the function is given and you are required to find another function. (a) To find the function f when given the functions g and gf .

Example, given gf ( x) = 2 x + 2

and g ( x) = x + 1 , find f (x) .

Step 1: Substitute x by f ( x) as object for function g into equation g ( x) = x + 1 . Also, the image of g ( x) contains terms x will be substituted by f ( x) as following:

g ( x) = x + 1 g[ f ( x )] = [ f ( x )] + 1
Step 2: Equalize the current image of g[ f ( x)] with given composite function fg (x) .

g[ f ( x )] = gf ( x ) [ f ( x )] + 1 = 2 x + 2
Step 3: Put f (x) on one side and the rest of the expressions on the other side.

[ f ( x)] + 1 = 2 x + 2 f ( x) = 2 x + 2 1 f ( x) = 2 x + 1
(b) To find the function g when given the functions f and gf

Example, given gf ( x) = 2 x + 2

and f ( x ) = 4 x 1 , find g ( x ) .

Step 1: Let f ( x) as y , the object for function g and substitute into equation f ( x ) = 4 x 1 . Let f (x) = y ,

f ( x) = 4 x 1 y = 4 x 1
Step 2: Express x in terms of y :

y = 4x 1 y + 1 = 4x y +1 y +1 =xx= 4 4

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Additional Mathematics

Chapter1 Functions

Step 3: Substitute f ( x) by y and also x in terms of y into equation gf ( x) = 2 x + 2 .

gf ( x) = 2 x + 2 g[ f ( x)] = 2 x + 2 y +1 g ( y ) = 2( )+2 4 y +1 y +1+ 4 g ( y) = +2= 2 2 y+5 g ( y) = 2

Step 4: Substitute y with x to obtain g (x) from g ( y ) .

y+5 2 x+5 g ( x) = 2 g ( y) =

Additional notes
6. Mapping to itself or self-mapping If function f maps x to itself, 7. Meaning, f ( x ) = x (This is a special case which occurs when the values the object and image are the same)

Example,
Find the value of x when function

maps

x to itself where

f ( x) = 2 x + 4 .

When f ( x) = x

Solutions:

2x + 4 = x 2 x x = 4 x = 4 Meaning, when x = 4 , f (4) = 4 .

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